INLEX

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Volunteering in sea turtle conservation in Central America

The sea turtle conservation program is a great for volunteers looking to help marine Eco-systems by protecting one of its most vulnerable species as well as spending time outdoors.  Sea turtles are endangered due to many factors like pollution, sea turtle nest poaching, plastics, by-catch, and injury due to motorized vessels. Sea turtle numbers are decreasing at a shocking pace, and that is why many projects around the world have been created to help slow down or hopefully stop this decline. As a volunteer in sea turtle conservation in Central America you will encounter these species:

Leatherback sea turtle:

The Leatherback sea turtle does not have a hard shell, but instead has a rough rubber-like skin that protects it along bone plates giving it a leather-like look. They are the largest sea turtles with an average size of 5 feet 9 inches to around 6 feet 3 inches in length and weighing 550-1650 pounds. They also have  large migrational patterns crossing Atlantic and Pacific oceans. The Leatherbacks’  diet consists mainly of jellyfish helping control the population.

Their lifespan usually ranges around 50 years, although more exact numbers are not yet known.  The leather back turtles usually nest in the same area where they were born or may choose another one in the region.

Olive Ridley Sea Turtle :

The Olive Ridely sea turtle has the largest population of all, and it gets its name from its olive color. It ranges from around 4 feet  to  5’6  in length and weighs no more than 100 pounds. This sea turtle returns to the beach where it was born to nest and only nests in a few places around the world , making it more vulnerable to changes in its habitat.

The Olive Ridley sea Turtle eats Jellyfish, crab, shrimp and occasionally algae.  Volunteers in the sea turtle conservation program will encounter this turtle more often.

Hawksbill Sea Turtle

The Hawksbill Sea Turtle lives mostly in shallow water making it more susceptible to predators and human harm , in fact this turtle is now critically endangered.

The Hawksbill gets its name from its pointy nose, and is omnivorous but prefers eating sea sponges. They average a size of this turtle is around 3 feet and weighs around 90-150 pounds.

Volunteers working in the sea turtle conservation program can expect to task like :

-Support in cleaning and keeping in good appearance the installations. -Support to the staff with activity planning. -Help with building infrastructure as necessary -Assist visitors to the project.  (explaining turtles life and cycle, answering questions, etc) -Help monitor hatchery and night turtle patrols (only during sea turtle season) -Help in Mangrove conservation -Assist to the staff with the egg donations in the mornings. -Assist the staff with the activities for the release of turtles.

The turtle season ranges from July to December.

If you like simple living, being outdoors and love wildlife the sea turtle conservation program is for you!

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By becoming a volunteer in turtle conservation in Costa Rica, you are joining a team that works hard day and night to help raise the numbers of sea turtles.

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Reasons to Visit Guatemala

“Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore.” - André Gide Guatemala is known as the country of eterna primavera or eternal spring because it has a warm, perfect climate all year round. But, this isn’t all people are talking about Guatemala, it is coming out as a shining star because it is simply magical and has so much to offer to its welcome visitors. With volcanoes, hot springs, mayan ruins, colonial cities and, as some say, the most beautiful lake in the world, it is hard to resist the lure of coming to this great country. This is also, of course, where we at INLEX started our dedication to service. Our very own founder worked for Peace Corp for many years in Guatemala and he started INLEX to give volunteers the flexibility to choose where they helped, and with what focus. Guatemala has since captured the heart of many volunteers and travellers due to the great beauty, and here are some of the reasons why: The People With a population of almost 16 million and more than six ethnic groups, Guatemala is known to have some of the friendliest most welcoming people. Our volunteers generally come to Guatemala to help, support and learn from them but, due to their generosity, openness and kindness, they often steal their hearts too.

The Volcanoes The number of volcanoes in Guatemala is long disputed, there could be anywhere between 29 and 41! However, there are only three currently active volcanoes which are by far the most interesting. Fuego, sits just by Antigua, the biggest tourist town in Guatemala and smokes most of the year. Santiagito sits on the side of dormant volcano Santa Maria in Xela and erupts roughly every 45 minutes. Pacaya is closer to Guatemala City and is not only active, but you can also climb it, and melt marshmallows in the hot spots. Antigua Guatemala The old capital of Guatemala, Antigua Guatemala (or just Antigua to most) was relieved of its duties after being destroyed too many times by earthquakes. Now a World Heritage Site, it’s like stepping back to colonial times when you walk through the streets. With iconic sites at every corner, Antigua never becomes old. Mayan Ruins There are ruins all over Guatemala, the most visited being Iximche (a regular on our tours), Tikal, and more recently, El Mirador. They are simply stunning, awe-inspiring and oozing in history and pride, something that cannot be missed. Lake Atitlan A lake formed in a crater of a volcano, the stories surrounding this lake, some say, the most beautiful lake in the world, never stop. With towns all around it each with their own personalities and hotels hanging over the lake, you can never get tired of this great beauty. Semuc Champey This mix of natural limestone bridges and tortoise blue pools tucked away in the jungle of Guatemala is where you find this paradise. You can distract yourself here for a few days, swimming through caves, using only candlelight, and jumping into waterfalls along the pools. It really is a great wonder. I could continue talking about the best places in Guatemala forever, it really is a wonder to visit. However, it is also a poor country, one that needs much support from volunteers to help develop into a great country. The best way to explore this country is by coming to visit, spending some time giving back volunteering and spend your weekends exploring the beauty of this country, tucked away in Central America, waiting to shine.

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Group volunteer programs are designed for groups from 6 to 30 people; and mix elements of service, cultural activities, hikes, visits to touristic places, team building games and special activities at the group’s request.

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Is International Volunteer Right for Me?

Volunteering abroad is a growing opportunity and many people are choosing it as an alternative for vacations; a way of seeing the world, experiencing a new culture as well as giving back. However, flying half way around the world to a new country, to spend time with new people and experience new things can be, to some, the greatest idea ever, but, to others, a little daunting! In some ways, it should scare you. Challenge you, excite you and petrify you; after all it is supposed to! However, you have to decide if you can cope with everything a trip like this will throw everything and you need to decide if you can cope, with our help of course! So, here is a list to help you decide if international volunteering is right for you! Do I have the skills needed? As with any job, you need to have the skills needed for the position. Skills for volunteering however tend to be very different to skills needed for a job, to work with children, for example, you need to be kind, patient and like children. However, if you want to work in a medical clinic, you will need to have some medical training or experience depending on the location and this is something to consider when looking at volunteering. The great thing about our volunteering opportunities is there are positions for all skill sets. To start looking at where your skills can meet the need, take a look at our volunteering opportunities in Guatemala, Peru and Costa Rica, or apply here and we will match your skills for you! Can you adapt? When you arrive in a new country, you will be greeted by one of our local staff, however, you will also be confronted with many new, different, weird, exciting and confusing differences. The way you are used to working will be challenged, and you will be asked to adapt yourself to a new culture! The great thing is, an open mind is all you need to take on the challenge of everything and adapting yourself. Ultimately this will lead to a better, more fulfilling experience. Can you listen and learn? Volunteering overseas is about bringing your skills to a place where they are needed. But, it is also about listening to the local project, learning what they need and adapting your skills and abilities to fit their need. You will need to be receptive to their ideas and wants and willing to change your way of working to fit them. If you are open to new perspectives and ideas, then you will be perfect for this! It should lead to a rich sharing experience that will benefit others long after you have left!

Are you creative? There are lots of volunteering jobs that need a creative person, working with kids, art projects, designing games and lessons, these all need someone who can be creative. However, you also need to understand that the unexpected will happen. Someone will forget the key to the building and you will be stuck outside with 30 excited children, the buses won't be running and you need to find a way to get to your project. All these things are part of being in another country and the solutions that you expect to have available in your home country, won't necessarily be available here! So, you need to approach the problem creatively, with an open mind, listening to everyone's ideas and find a creative solution! Are you positive and patient? As I have already mentioned, the unexpected is to be expected when volunteering abroad, and when it happens, the only way to tackle the situation is the be positive and patient! Listen to instructions and ideas, share you own, voice your frustrations calmly and come to a solution. International volunteering is an amazing experience but you must remember the bigger picture so that small frustrations don't ruin your experience and opportunity to give back! Are you tolerant? Unless you are from Latin America, almost everything will be different when volunteering with us. The language, the culture, the customs, the ideas and the solutions. But, that is why you want to come right? To experience everything that isn't just like your home country? Latin America is an amazing place to visit, stay and give back but we must always remain tolerant, respectful and accepting of the differences. If you can do this, you are about to embark on the best experience of your life!Sound amazing? Then get on our website, find the country you want to visit and the project you want to work on and sign up! With opportunities in Guatemala, Costa Rica and Peru for individual volunteers, interns, group volunteering and families and faculty-led programs in child care, construction, education, medical and health, micro finance and much more, we have something for everyone!

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Volunteer in animal care and support very noble projects to improve the living conditions of street animals.

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Why should you volunteer abroad as Senior?

Many people think that volunteering abroad is for young adventurous people trying to gain perspective on the world. While this is also true, volunteering programs abroad are also a great fit for seniors. This is because of their time availability, experience, good criteria, and enhanced empathy. Here are some of our reasons why we love seniors that volunteer! Senior volunteers have time Seniors are usually retired, making time plentiful. Not only time availability is good for senior volunteering abroad, but flexibility as well plays a big role in how that time is spent. Seniors can choose to come at the best times or when there are fewer volunteers and more help is needed. Also, seniors can easily change their plans with fewer restrictions as their kids are grown up and they don´t have a boss waiting for them to get back to work. Senior volunteers have experience Seniors joining a volunteer program have a lot to give to their project in the form of experience. Seniors had a lifetime of valuable professional experience and can contribute it to their project in a deeper way by training staff, help strategize or create better and improved workflows. INLEX has had quite a few volunteers over 50 that have made a significant contribution to their projects by implementing new and better ways of doing things and strengthening the project staff itself with new tools to accomplish this. A great example of this is of an Irish volunteer in his mid 60’s who was a principal most of his life and joined to volunteer at a rural school in Guatemala. During his time volunteering, he was able to implement a better time management structure for teachers, a more efficient line of communication, and a system to encourage students that were excelling in their performance. All over the course of 10 weeks

Senior volunteers have a good criteria

Years living on this earth tend to give individuals a better thought process and improved decision-making skills. Senior volunteers are very independent and tend to have a very sound judgment on their work. Projects love seniors, as they don´t have to look after their work so often.

Senior volunteers are very empathic

People that volunteer, in general, are very empathic, however, we see that seniors are even better at understanding other people´s situations. They are able to be more understanding of the people they help. Empathy helps a long way when making connections with people.

Their experience, criteria, empathy, and flexibility are some of the reasons why we love seniors that volunteer. Are you over 50 and looking to travel abroad and make a difference?

Volunteers can choose from programs in:

Education / Teaching

Health and medical

Environmental work

Women empowerment

Micro finance and small business

Construction

and more!

And did you know that according to a recent study volunteering may be healthy and improve your quality of life?

Source: https://www.inlexca.org/blog/why-to-volunteer-as-a-senior-abroad/

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The physiotherapy clinic in Guatemala is run completely on donations and is set up to provide free or very affordable treatment to low-income locals that have a variety of conditions. Physiotherapy internships in Guatemala

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Medical Volunteering Campaigns by INLEXCA are a great way to help communities in Latin America within a short amount of time.  https://www.inlexca.org/groups-medical-campaigns/

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Are you interested in volunteering to help children in need? Find volunteer opportunities and resources with INLEXCA today. https://www.inlexca.org/volunteer-childcare

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Top reasons why to travel to NICARAGUA and volunteer with INLEXCA

So you know you want to volunteer and you would like to do it in Central America- but are still thinking where…. Let me introduce you to Nicaragua! It is a beautiful country with wonderful people, and a dynamic culture. If you decide to volunteer with INLEXCA you can work in an educational project, spread smiles among children in childcare projects or work alongside local doctors and nurses to treat different conditions and prevent others in areas with scarce resources. Nicaragua is known for its beautiful volcanoes, the amazing nature and the great food. Let me tell you 5 reasons which will convince you to book your flight today! 

  · You can do volcano boarding! Cerro Negro is an active black volcano located just outside the town of Leon. It offers brave visitors the possibility to hike up and then slide down its steep and slippery slope. You definitely won´t forget this experience!

· Admire the beautiful colonial town Granada. Besides wandering around looking at the architecture and the colorful streets, you can take a kayaking trip to the nearby islets, enjoy hiking trips to Mombacho volcano, or visit the nearby markets in Masaya.

· Enjoy the amazing food! Typical Nicaraguan dishes include Gallo Pinto: most people in Nicaragua eat this almost daily and it is considered a national symbol. It’s composed of a mixture of fried rice with onion and sweet pepper, red beans boiled with garlic, which is combined and fried.

· Spot monkeys on a hike though the jungle on the Isla Ometepe. This beautiful island is located on Lago de Nicaragua and is formed by two joined volcanoes, Concepción and Maderas. Hiking, kayaking, cycling, and healthy food are the island’s main draws.

·Have an unforgettable adventure in a country far from the beaten touristic paths with highly affordable prizes.

· Visit the Somoto Canyon, one of the oldest rock formations in Central America. This canyon is 200 m deep and has beautiful epic rock formations. It can be explored with a guide or alone, but in either case, make sure to bring sandals with you, as the stones on the bottom of the river can be painful when hiking, swimming and scrambling.

· Visit the Corn Islands and snorkel, scuba dive, fish, soak up the sun, and relax with a good book.

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Do you want to volunteer abroad on women's empowerment programs? Join volunteer women empowerment program by INLEXCA here.

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6 Things You Should Ask Before Volunteering Abroad

You are excited to plan your volunteer adventure abroad, but are overwhelmed by the amount of projects and organizations you encounter in your research and wonder how to choose the most suitable for you? The following 6 questions are intended to inspire you to think about volunteering abroad and might help you to choose the right program for you!\

Questions you should ask yourself before volunteering abroad: 1. In what field do I want to volunteer?  Begin by making a list of your interest and skills; this will narrow down your search to the projects that are most suitable for you. Here at INLEX it helps us a lot if you know what you are good at since we do place a special effort in assisting each volunteer individually and matching him/her with the right project.  For example if you have a background in medicine, our medical projects in Guatemala might be the right thing for you! 2. How much time do you have?  Some people only have time and money for a short volunteer experience; this is why we do offer programs as short as 2 weeks time. However we do recommend staying at least a month for you to get the real experience in your project placement, we do also have a few projects where a 4 weeks commitment is required. 3. What do I know about the country?  It is always helpful to get familiar with the culture and language of the country you are going to visit. Here at INLEX we do provide our prospective volunteers with all information needed to get ready and excited about your trip- including a pre-arrival information packet and a volunteer orientation when you arrive.

Questions to ask the organization before volunteering abroad 1. What does my program fee cover?  Of course you do want to know where your fees go and what is included in your program. This information has to be clear and easily accessible to you. A good volunteer program has a detailed breakdown of their program fee on their website. Fees at INLEX directly cover the cost of hosting you, including your home stay accommodation, meals, airport pick-up, orientation and 24/7 staff support. A portion of that fee also goes toward administrative expenses, like marketing and recruitment. 2. Are there testimonials from former volunteers?  Reading about volunteers that have been in the program is always helpful to get an idea about the experience. At INLEX we can even connect you with former volunteers if it helps you to decide about the program you would like to volunteer in. 3. How does a typical volunteering day look like? Before you choose a project it is important for you to get to know your responsibilities and activities on a daily basis. On our webpage you can find a detailed list of possible activities you will be doing in each of our project listed, of course it can vary depending on your strengths and interests. Have more questions about volunteering abroad? Contact us through [email protected] and we will get in touch with you as soon as possible.

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Medical volunteering program of INLEXCA is perfect for volunteers looking to start their experience in healthcare and are just starting their studies in the field.

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Integrated Learning Experiences offers different group programs for groups. If you are looking for vacation volunteering, then INLEXCA is best option

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International Internship with INLEXCA

Are you recently graduating and would like to gain some work experience or are you a student and required to do an internship for your studies? How about considering an international internship in Central America! Through project-based internships abroad, you can build a strong resume, experience foreign work cultures first-hand and build a global network to support your professional growth. One of the most popular reasons to intern abroad is to gain professional experience. Our Internship programs place you in real-world work scenarios, matching the position to your interests or field of study. This way, you can develop professional knowledge of a field you might pursue in the future. For instance, here at INLEXCA we do offer medical interns to work in rural medical posts where they work alongside with doctors and nurses and gain first hand experience in treating patients and what it is like to be a doctor. Another reason to do an internship abroad is that it could be a great way to acquire skills and knowledge that can be useful in the modern workplace, like learning to be flexible and open minded. You also might develop useful soft skills, such as communication, project management and more which you can test drive within your trip and then implement once you return home. Of course we have to mention that interning abroad with INLEXCA is a perfect opportunity to study Spanish and practice your language skills. You could take an intensive one to one Spanish class for a few weeks during which you would learn specific language skills you need for your intern position. International Internship with INLEXCA The best about our intern abroad programs is that you can combine the possibility of gaining professional experience with traveling and having a great adventure. Please contact us with any question you might have!

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Are you an animal lover? How about saving turtles in Central America

Do you love animals, the beach, and want to volunteer? Saving turtles and working in a Wild Life Project might be the right thing for you!  

Central America has a very diverse ecosystem and many rich natural resources which makes it a perfect place for people who love to spend time in nature. At INLEXCA we do work with different local projects where volunteers can take action in a nature reserve, park or an environmental project. Depending on your placement you will have the chance to interact with sea turtles, iguanas and alligators, and other tropical climate species.

In our turtle projects for example, volunteers have the possibility to get up-close and personal with one of our favorite marine species, working side by side with the experienced conservationists who have made it their life’s mission to protect them. One of the most emotional and rewarding experience volunteers always talk about is watching baby sea turtles emerge from their nests, carefully collecting them into buckets of sand, and helping them make the arduous trek to the beach, where they can be released to the relative safety of their vast ocean home. Why are sea turtle projects so important?! Sea Turtles are in danger of extinct and there are many threats to Central American Sea Turtles, like poaching for human consumption, being struck by boat traffic, getting eaten by domestic animals, being caught accidentally by industrial fisheries, and ingesting trash in oceans and beaches.    Sea turtles are also essential for the ocean and the beach as they leave vital nutrients for dune vegetation through their unhatched nests and leftover egg shells. As for the ocean, sea turtles help to control the jellyfish population, including stinging jellyfish! Sea turtles have been around for 110 million years, so participating in volunteer with turtles will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience.